Staff - Malvern Hills Conservators

St Ann’s Well
The lease of St Ann’s Well expires at the end of March 2010. The decision was
made to give notice to the tenant of the Board’s intention to terminate the lease at the
end of its current term in order for the premises to be directly managed by the
Conservators.
125 th Anniversary of the Malvern Hills Conservators
To recognise this important milestone in the history of the Conservators the following
events were held:
• A 12 page insert in the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter commemorating
125 th years of conservation.
• A display of maps of the area through the ages entitled “Mapping the Malvern
Hills, 125 Years of the Malvern Hills Conservators”, prepared by
Worcestershire County Council’s Records Office in conjunction with the
Board’s Honorary Archivist, Valerie Goodbury, will continue to be exhibited at
venues in the area for the remainder of the year.
• The maps were the basis for a talk given by Mrs Goodbury to the Annual
General Meeting of Council Tax Payers in July.
• A Treasure Hunt, devised by Board member, Pete Watson, with clues
encompassing the Hills was well received.
• The Three Counties Show had the anniversary as its theme.
Planning
The Urgent Business Sub-Committee had a meeting with Planning Officers to obtain
the Conservators’ views on the effects of the South Worcestershire Joint Core
Strategy on Conservators’ land. The three areas were at Newland, the east side of
Mayfield Road and the QinetiQ site at Poolbrook.
Staff
• Matthew Rouse, who had shepherded our flock over the latter part of the
Heritage Lottery funded grazing project moved to an independent position as
a farmer with commoners rights and thanks to the DEFRA stewardship grant
is managing the stock on the northern Hills. Matthew had been employed by
the Board since 2002.
• In December 2008 Josh Loader was recruited to the Field Staff. Josh carried
out his work placement whilst at Hartpury College and did well in an open
interview to obtain a permanent position.
• After four years service Daniel Lovatt left us in October to travel to the
southern hemisphere.
• For the second year the Conservators gave a placement to a student
undertaking a Bulmers Foundation Masters Degree in Sustainable
Development Advocacy. Amanda Barton, spent a month working with staff
on further developing the website.
• Our thanks are extended to volunteers Carol Burgess and Jenny Cheale who
have helped in the office throughout the year.
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